Celebrities and Fans React to Death of Harold Ramis

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Updated at 4:34 PM EDT on Friday, Apr 25, 2014

Reaction to the news of writer, director and actor Harold Ramis' death was swift and heartfelt Monday, with fans and many who had worked with the Hollywood star taking to social media platforms to express their shock and to reminisce over the roles and movies that made him a household name in the 1980s and 1990s.

A force behind such beloved comedies as "Groundhog Day," "Caddyshack," "Animal House," "Stripes," "Ghostbusters" and "Analyze This," Ramis died of complications related to auto-immune inflammatory vasculitis, a condition Ramis had battled for four years. He was 69.

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"Every tweet of gratitude you post today about Harold Ramis, post it again tomorrow at the same time. Do not explain why to anyone," tweeted Dave Itzkoff in reference to "Groundhog Day."

"Was honored to have gotten to work with Harold Ramis, the Buddha of Comedy," wrote Rainn Wilson, star of TV's "The Office," an episode of which Ramis directed in 2006. "Brilliant, humble, radiant. We’ve lost an icon."

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"Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my brilliant, gifted, funny friend, co-writer/performer and teacher Harold Ramis. May he now get the answers he was always seeking," Ramis' "Ghostbuster" co-star Dan Aykroyd wrote in an email to Entertainment Weekly of his friend's passing.

Others quoted or highlighted the characters Ramis made famous, in particular his role as Dr. Egon Spengler in "Ghostbusters."

"Harold Ramis, RIP, we will try to not cross the streams," wrote actress Nia Vardalos.

As news of Ramis' passing spread, a makeshift memorial appeared outside the fire house in Tribeca, N.Y. that was used as the Ghostbusters' headquarters in the hit film. Fans left flowers, candles and a package of Twinkies outside Hook & Ladder 8 at 14 North Moore Steet, which is still an operating fire station.